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THE 



FANCY BALL 

7. 



A LETTER, 



LOST FROM THE PORTFOLIO OF A 
YOUNG LADY OF ALBANY. 




ALBANY: 

W. C. LITTLE & CO. 

1846. 






ALBANY: 
J. MUNSELL, PRINTER. 



THE FANCY BALL 



Brilliant beyond description, my dear , was the 

fete which came off at Yates Mansion on Thursday 
the 15th of January. I believe I mentioned to you 

in a former epistle, that Mrs. S had been induced 

by some gay friends to delight the hearts of the young 
ladies of our city by giving a fancy ball. You 
remember that Mrs. S. came to Albany but a few years 
since, as a fair bride, and truly she has since, by her 
accomplished mind, elegant simplicity of manner, and 
unobtrusive worth, won to herself golden opinions from 
all. Dwelling as she does in the home of her ancestors, 
an ancient and spacious mansion, she had a fine 
opportunity of drawing around her friends from different 
parts of the state, as well as from the city, of New 
York, without rendering her rooms either crowded or 
uncomfortable. For myself, you know my dislike to the 
wearisome monotony of ordinary evening parties ; but 
in the brilliant pageant which attracted me from my 
usual quiet course of life on Thursday evening, there was 



much that addressed itself to both the eye and ear of 
taste. You may imagine my enjoyment of the scene, 
when I assure you my feelings were akin to those 
with which as a child I perused the Arabian Nights 
Entertainments. Being not myself sufficiently " en 
costume," or attractive, to be an object of general 
attention, it left me more at liberty to observe and 
fulfil my promise of a minute description to you. 

You have requested me to give you an idea of how 
the character of the individual harmonized with the 
costume chosen. I will endeavor to do so as far as my 
knowledge will permit. At least you shall have a 
slight sketch of my own impressions, that is, as far as 
my memory, (on which I rely entirely,) serves me. 

Classic and historical associations were awakened 
at every turn. Fair forms, clad in the costumes 
of different nations, wandered about the spacious 
apartments, or collected together in grotesque groups, 
looking like so many fabled houris, beneath the clear 
light of blazing chandeliers. In the dancing saloon 
the Turk and the Italian, the Hindoo and the Greek, 
the Milanese and the Parisian, the Russian and the 
Spaniard, the Persian and the Bohemian, the Scot and 
the English, joined the dance together. 

Mr. and Mrs. S., as Charles I. of England and his 
queen Henrietta, received their guests in regal state 
and attire, attended by their lovely little daughter as a 



Page, and surrounded by a train of Maids of Honor, 
arrayed in the costume of the 17th century. Truly 
they possess within themselves that innate nobility of 
feeling which enabled them to sustain their characters 
to admiration. How vividly arose to my memory 
Charles's first meeting with, and romantic love for his 
queen — when, as the betrothed of the infanta of 
Spain, in disguise he visited her father's court, and 
there first saw and loved the gentle Henrietta. 

Next in state were Gen. T. and lady as Henry the 
Eighth and Catharine of Arragon — in regal pomp and 
stateliness of person, very kingly and queenly. I had 
feared much for the success of so unusual an affair 
in our old Dutch city. Imagine then my surprise, 
when I saw old Bogardis himself in close conversation 
with Annaje Jans, no doubt discussing the subject of 
the grant which fully entitled his descendants to the 
long-contested property of Trinity Church. Prince 
Knickerbocker next riveted my attention, benignly 
smiling on all around him. And never did the Prince 
in his palmiest days give better cheer than flowed in 
upon him that night. Beneath the old Dutch hat of 
this spirit of the past, I recognized the benevolent 
features of H — y M — n, whose past and present career 
gives token of as unblemished a name descending to 
posterity, as that of him whose title he had assumed. 
In one apartment a group seated on the floor in 



oriental style now excited much attention. Enter with 
me this charmed circle, and see what familiar faces we 
can detect. Admirable sir Turk, or Mr. J. P. K — g, 
of Tro5^ You might in that garb deceive Mahomet 
himself and pass for one of his most devoted followers. 

There is Mr. T d also in Turkish costume, whose 

polish of mind and manner lend a charm to every 
circle, and who now converses fluently in French with 
Madame Pompadour, who stands beside him. Two 
beautiful Circassian Captives now meet our eye — Mrs. 
F. and Mrs. J., — once two of our city's fairest belles, 
now really captive by the chain of matrimony. There 

is Miss A — S d, a pretty Jewess with a sunny 

smile, and C. T. B., whose dark eye flashes with fun 
beneath his turban. A — y B — d looks the Sultan to 

admiration, while at his side reclines Miss S n, a 

fair Sultana, with a face brighter than her glittering 

robe. The beautiful Miss L n, and fair Misses 

V — R n, complete the circle. 

In Sir Roger de Coverly, I recognize F A s, 

a young and popular physician of our city. He seems 
following in the train of an old-fashioned dame, beneath 
whose disguise I discover the blooming face of the 
daughter of one of our most eminent lawyers. Yonder 

stands the gifted son of our ex-president, J V — 

B , in a court costume, and at his side a fair 

Greek girl, Miss T e. Smiles are playing about 



her brilliant teeth, but in her speaking eye, and on her 
intellectual brow there is a shade of sadness which 
accords well with our associations with the costume 
she has chosen. Near her stands another fair Greek. 
Her attire is rich in the extreme, and bespeaks her the 
scion of some noble house. They call her Ida. I 
know her by her bright blue eye, and by her tiny and 
exquisite foot. Is it not Willis that says, " small as a 
snow-flake, and falls on the ground as mute." It is 

Mrs. B h, of New York. 

Now an eminent counsellor, S. S s, as Sir Robert 

Walpole, passes by, attired in a costume which well 
befits his profession, and most admirably the character 
is sustained. There stands an old lady of the last 
century, whose cap shades features still beautiful, and 
bearing a strong resemblance to those of the fair 
shepherdess, who, with crook in hand, wanders at her 

side. It is Mrs. H 1 and her daughter; who, ever 

retiring, seems to shun rather than seek admiration. 

Now the daughter of a gallant officer, Miss W r, 

glides with perfect grace through the dance. There 

I see Mr. J , of the senale, in the dress of a black 

knight, and at his side a graceful form clad in azure 
and silver. Wit and humor shed a witching influence 
around her, for a kind heart shines through all. Fair 

Star, a name well chosen for Mrs. B n of New 

York, has ever many satellites revolving around her. 



8 

Now moving through the dance we see the fair young 

wife of S S s. She can talk delightfully as 

well as dance gracefully, and possesses poetry of mind 
as well as of motion. Now the stately form of a 

pirate passes by — Lewis B 1: your only booty 

this eveniug has been hearts. Leaning against yon 
pillar stands a young girl, whose regality of costume 
suits well the high breeding of her look and air. She 
is the Lady Rowena, poor Rebecca's successful rival. 

It is Miss B d, the daughter of our gifted ex-member 

of congress. 

But a crowd are now making their way towards the 
dancing saloon, to see a minuet — that favorite dance 
at the court of Charles the First, performed with much 

dignity and grace by Monsieur and Madame M d, 

of Park Place. The fair Ambassadress to the court of 

Charles and Henrietta, Mrs. G. B. W , of Troy, 

wife of the estimable ex-member of assembly from that 
city, now passess by. Her sandalled and aristocratic 
foot scarce touches the floor o'er which she dances. 
Grace and soul dwell in every movement, and though 
yon youth so completely disguised by his becoming 
costume calls her " mother," she still retains all the 
charms that characterised her girlhood and bellehood. 
A Highlander and his young wife now pass by — Mr. 

and Mrs. S L h. Never did the tartan plaid 

cover a manlier and a fairer form. Now advances the 



lion-hearted Richard of England — Dr. H W 1, 

in a very rich costume, and with him a troop of 
blooming sisters. Accompanying them is a fair stranger 

from the West, Miss T k. She is in Spanish 

costume, and by her extreme loveliness has fascinated 
my gaze whenever she appeared before me during the 
evening. Beneath the disguise of an Italian nobleman 
I recognize my agreeable and intelligent friend, W. 

W. F h, the lord and master of one of the fair 

Circassians. Here I see a very pretty and decided 
Quakeress, Miss V. A,, leaning on the arm of a stately 
looking personage, in whom I recognize Gen. V. P — k, 

of Batavia. There are Mr. and Mrs. W n, in slight 

costume, with their daughter, a fair young debutante, 
with one foot just on the threshhold of life. She is 
Fenella, the dumb girl of Scott's Peveril of the Peak. 
But though her lips are silent, her eye and smile speak. 

Miss H 1, of New York, appeared charmingly in a 

Peasant's unadorned garb, which displayed to much 
advantage the feminine grace of her every movement. 

Miss L — B d, also, in Neapolitan Peasant costume. 

Her refined style of beauty would be conspicuous in 

any attire. Mrs. K g, was attractive as ever in a 

Spanish dress ; and Miss S r, as usual, graceful as 

a Peri. The elegant person of Gen. C r appeared 

to much advantage in the costume of a Knight of 
Malta, and received even more applause when in the 
2 



10 

latter part of the evening, as an old French Nobleman, 
in conversation with a fellow soldier, he " fought his 

battles o'er again." E d B 1, as William 

Tell, next rivited my attention. How forcibly did the 
last line of the beautiful and touching song by that 
name recur to my mind — "My son is saved." But 
Cupid's arrows are the only weapons he uses. May 
his aim be as worthy, and his success as great. 

Schenectady was represented by several sweet faces, 
in different costumes ; and Troy, among many fair, 
like the ancient city of that name, sent its Helen, 
Miss B., a Hindoo Girl, making music as she went, 
and attracting many to watch her graceful movements 
in the dance» La Vivandiere, the fair bride Mrs. 

Y s of New York sustained her part well. The 

simplicity of her costume was in perfect character with 
the quiet beauty of her petite and graceful figure. 

In friend Obadiah and sister Ruth we thought we 
recognized the son of a distinguished prelate of the 
church, and Mrs. P — e, one of Albany's reigning belles 
in days gone by — now a Roman matron, in form and 

feeling, calling her children her jewels. Miss W n, 

and Miss F — d, two fair Spanish Girls, with their 
dark eyes and raven curls shining through their black 
mantillas. Mrs. J — e, in a rich and becoming dress, and 
Mrs. A. B — d, representing Night — yet "fair as night 
decked with a thousand stars." Beneath the garb of 



11 

Rob Roy I recognize E d B f, a member of one 

of our most ancient Dutch families. His dignity of 
face and mein render the costume both suitable and 
becoming. In the uniform of a Continental Officer 
we discover Dr. F — d. Alas! in these piping times 
of peace, his lancet is the only weapon he can wield. 

R. E. T 's elegance is not concealed by his sailor's 

hat and garb. The thorough bred gentleman will 

shine through any disguise. The lovely Mrs. T e 

appeared in Polish costume, as did Miss G s, and 

one or two others. I could not discern whether the 
costume most became their fair faces, or they the 
costume. 

The army was well represented in the persons of 
Gen. W . . 1, Capt. W— r, Lieuts. B— n, and McD— 1 ; 

and Gen. G 1 of Albany excited even more than 

usual attention and respect, by appearing in the uniform 
of his brave father, the Hero of Fort Stanwix. Mr. W. 

M. W n, of Troy, also appeared in military costume. 

Miss H. D — w, as Lady of the Mist, seemed enveloped 
in moonbeams, so light and beautiful was the drapery 

that fell around her. Miss E 1, a fair Bohemian 

Girl, shone conspicuous for grace and beauty, and Mrs. 

■\\r — S n wore a costume evincing such exquisite 

taste, and which became her so beautifully, that she 
might have formed what are termed studies for an artist. 
Miss M. T d was beautiful as Scotland's unfortunate 



12 

Mary ; and Miss P — n of Troy, as a Sybil, graced much 
her picturesque and rural attire. In the costume of 
Baron Rothschild, we welcomed back to our midst our 

old friend and fellow citizen, Cashier P , of Buffalo. 

We hope his future exertions may be as successful 
as his past, and crown him, ere many years are past, 
indeed a Rothschild. In the character of Postillion, 

so admirably sustained by Mr. H H 1, of Troy, 

one would hardly recognize the son of one of the 
wealthiest families in our midst. His own manner, 
ever gentleman-like and unassuming, forms, I am 
told, a striking contrast to the noisy, whip-snapping 
character he had assumed. Mr. K — g, of Albany, 
appeared remarkably well in the same costume* 

J. A. F h appeared to great advantage in the 

Burgesses Corps uniform ; while J. K. P e figured 

as an Italian Bandit, and F. T d, and J — B , 

as Romeos. J. D. T p was in the disguise of a 

Boatman, and J. R. P r, in that of a French Sailor. 

Our handsome young friend H. F G n as 

Bassanio attracted many smiles from the fair ladies. 

Now a circle anxious to penetrate the veil that hides 

the future, gathers about a Gipsey Girl, Miss G y; 

and now the pretty daughters of Comptroller F g 

pass by, one as Little Red Ridinghood, the other a 

Bohemian. Yonder Mr. W n, a Friar, counts his 

beads ; and here, oh, horror of horrors ! comes S r 



13 

L g as Blue Beard. " Sister Anne, sister Anne ! 

do you see any one coming yet ?" 

Mrs. C r of Utica made a lovely Sultana, wearing 

as she did a very rich and becoming costume. Mrs. 
G — r, another star of the Delevan House, I discovered 
by the beauty of her hand and arm, which might 
serve as a model for the sculptor. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. 

Y. P e assumed the character and costume of a 

Brigand and Brigandess. Mr. H d, of Boston, 

revived our recollections of the unfortunate city of 
Pompeii, by appearing in the costume of the Greek 

Glaucusv Mr. L g P n wore the attire of a 

Dutch Burgher, and Mrs. P. one quite imperial in its 

style. Miss F 1 adorned her Milanese garb, and 

was accompanied by her brother in law, V. P. D w. 

Mr. S h, of Rochester, in the costume of Hamlet, 

sought in vain for Ophelia ; while Miss G stole 

even more hearts than usual in her becoming attire. 

P S h appeared as a Pirate. J. B. P b 

as Duke of Buckingham. J. McK n as Knight 

Templar; and Miss McK n as a Scottish Lassie. 

Judge D y, of New York, excited much applause 

by the infirm appearance and tottering footsteps so 
characteristic of the Mufti. The son of Bishop DeL. 

was completely disguised as Ivanhoe ; S. V. B as 

Knave of Clubs ; and J V as Don Bazillio. 

Mr. B. F h, of New York, wore the garb of a 



14 

French Peasant. Colonel D e, of Schenectady, 

as Ambassador to Henrietta's court, appeared in a very- 
splendid costume, while the intelligent face of Mrs. 

H y J s of Albany looked grave beneath the 

cap of an old lady of the last century. Mrs. T — E — k 
of Cazonovia wore a rick brocade silk of by-gone days. 

. ''An intellectual beauty, like a light within a vase, 
Touched every line with glory of her animated face." 

Mr. and Mrs. J. V. L. P n appeared in costume 

accompanied by the Misses C n, daughters of Judge 

C, of Troy, in spangled robes, representing Night. 
Who would not have been willing to sing, " I love the 

night, the starry night." Miss A. B y, of Troy, 

made a charming old lady. 

Miss L e and Miss T n, of Troy, appeared 

as Peasants, in very picturesque costumes, and Mrs. 

K , as Vivandiere. In whatever contest we 

may have with our sister city, the beauty and grace 
of her ladies we take pleasure in acknowledging ; to 
which homage of the head we add the homage of the 
heart, that of admiring and in some cases loving. G. 

W n and J. B. G e, of Troy, were courtiers of 

the age of Louis XIV. 

There was Miss V — W — k, of Albany, whose large, 
expressive black eyes, are as Italian-like as any fair 

resident of Naples. Mr. , of Boston, was also 

present, in a beautiful dress of the time of Louis XIV., 



15 

together with many others with whose faces I am not 
familiar. 

By the way, since commencing my epistle I have 

discovered that the Quaker was not C n, but P — tt 

P , of Schenectady. One of the most amusing 

scences of the evening was a contest between the old 

Frencn Nobleman, Gen. C r, and Sister Ruth as 

to who should gain possession of the precious person 
of Obadiah. The former, stationed at the door of the 
supper room and armed with a weapon, which, alas ! 
has often proved more fatal than the sharpest steel, 
namely, a bottle of champagne, strove by dint of the 
most eloquent entreaties to entice the staid brother to 
return once more to the " world's people." While 
Sister Ruth, with all the suppressed agony of her calm 
fraternity depicted on her anxious features, exclaimed, 
•' Obadiah, Obadiah, if thou returnest I will speak of 
thee to our people, and verily thou shalt be dealt 
with." 

With all my regard for the Quaker community, and 
my deep respect for the general uprightness which 
characterizes them, I could not at this scene forbear 
breaking forth into a most unfashionable burst of 
laughter, in the midst of which Sister Ruth disappeared, 
bearing off the meek Obadiah. " Did you ever 
behold so brilliant a scene," exclaimed a friend of 
mine, of Troy, to a fair belle of our own city, who 



16 

leaned upon his arm. "For myself, (he continued,) 
though I have attended fancy balls in the different 
cites of the Union, and many during my sojourn in 
other lands, yet truly I have never witnessed a scene 
so brilliant in beauty and artistical effect as this." 
Dream not, citizens of Syracuse ! of removing 
the Capital from this its favored seat. Condemn and 
despise the thought, ye wealthy and public-spirited of 
our city, and you, ye grave Senators and Legislators, 
pour forth the full tide of your eloquence against so 
wild a scheme, for know ye not that Albany is destined 
to be the most courtly city of the north. 

In the brilliant getting up of the Fancy Ball on 
Thursday evening, and in the taste and elegance 
displayed in the choice of costumes, I observed the 
same spirit which has led some of our most prominent 
citizens to take active measures with reference to 
establishing an Academy of the Fine Arts. When 
Nature in the early spring is opening her volume of 
glorious and beautiful revelations, Art, her worshiping 
handmaiden, will enthrone herself in a building 
about to be erected by our enterprising fellow citizen, 

E s C g, on the site of the old Knickerbacker 

Hall. There, on the very spot where to the sound 
of the merry viol, hundreds of hearts have bowed 
in homage before living and breathing beauty, there 
again will they admire and revere the wonderful 



17 

imitations and creations which the hand of genius 
imparts to the senseless canvass, until it seems instinct 
and rife with life and loveliness. There, my dear 

1 trust we will one day wander together — now 

a fair face calling forth our homage, now a glorious 
landscape awakening our admiration, and now bowing 
together in adoration before some glorious scriptural 
representation. Hasten, hasten the day ! Forgive 
this digression, you know my love of pictures ever 
renders me forgetful of all else. Do you recollect 
how perfectly oblivious I once was in the Academy in 

your city of the presence of Mr. , although in my 

unabstracted moments, he found me ever ready to 
exclaim with the poet, 

" Much we admired, and much our wonder grew, 
That one s7naU head could carry all he knew. 

But to return to the Fancy Ball. Our senate and 
assembly were also represented, and ably disguised, 
as were also the learned professions. Brave warriors 
and grave statesmen of by-gone days reappeared in 
the manly and gifted of our own. But the crowning 

charm of the evening was the Indian Girl, Miss B 1, 

the daughter of one of our most respected citizens. 
Every look and movement was in perfect keeping 
with the costume she had chosen. Her eyes and 
teeth were more brilliant than the ornaments about 
her person. Her stately step seemed to spurn the 
3 



18 

rich carpets o'er which she trod, and her immobility 
of feature when addressed, was a perfect piece of 
pantomime. The soft strains of the distant music 
from the dancing saloon fell unheeded on her ear. 
Statue like and motionless she sat, as if listening 
only to the sighing of the wind among the trees of 
her native forests. She brought to my memory the 
Magawisca of Hope Leslie, that story of Miss Sedgwick 
which so enchanted our youthful imaginations. 

It was very easy to detect through the slight disguise 
of the Minister from Oregon, our talented friend E — n 

C 11, accompanied by Mrs. C, also in slight costume. 

I was happy to see that this gay pageant had attracted 
from her usual retirement the charming wife of Gen. 

J. T. C r, who with her two agreeable sisters, the 

Misses H y, lent an additional charm to the evening. 

But in my endeavor to fulfil my promise, I have 
already exceeded the bounds of an ordinary letter. 
Doubtless there were many present whose names and 
costumes my recollection has not been sufficiently 
faithful to retain. Amid the brilliant constellation of 
that night of starry beauty, you must regard such as the 
Lost Pleiads of my memory. Suffice to say, that to 
prove that the Dutch feeling of Albany had not been 
sinned against, all the Vans were present, from the 
Van A's to the Van V's — which last letter was well 
represented in the person of A — V — V — -n, grandson 



19 

of the late venerable counsellor of that name, for so 
many years a resident of our city, and the pride and 
glory of his profession. 

But Morpheus is attacking my eyelids with so much 
power that I must reserve all else till we meeto 

Adieu. 



The following poem, by particular request, has 

been obtained by the publishers, and printed on 

their own responsibility. 

W, C. LITTLE & CO. 



TO THE QUEEN 



Hail mighty queen ! upon this motley crowd 
Of gay, of grave, of gentle, and of loud, 
Permit a minstrel from his secret nook 
To cast a careful, tho' unnoticed look ; 
And in a careless, rough and hasty rhyme. 
To sing the features of this merry chime. 

Needs he a muse to inspire him in his theme ? 
Not while thou (lovelier than a poet's dream) 
Miss .... art here, with that same witching smile. 
Which can the heart of Time himself beguile. 

First then, your Majesty, he turns to you ; 
To you from all assembled thanks are due ; 
Well sits the coronet upon thy brow, 
A queen before, tho' never crowned till now. 
So when this pageant of a night is o'er. 
And we have donned our usual garb once more ; 
Tho' all thy guests shall drop their borrowed parts, 
Still shalt thou reign as ever — queen of hearts. 

Near to thy throne beauty and grace are seen, 
Three maids of honor wait on thee their queen ; 



24 

Fairest amid the fair, by Envy's self-confessed, 
Where all are lovely, still the loveliest. 
How can the minstrel sing their various charms ? 
Or how could even B t sketch their forms ? 

Heavens ! what a motley sight spreads out to view, 
Of dresses, warlike, peaceful, old and new. 
Here is a dress, which ninety years ago. 
Caught for some great-great-grandmother a beau : 
And by its side one that by candle-light 
Was scarcely finished to. be worn this night. 
Here one which made for English palace halls, 
More humbly now is worn at fancy balls: 
And here another, rich in spangled work, 
For this night's use brought lately from New York. 
Dresses from Greece, from Scotland, and from France ; 
Dresses of days of prowess and romance. 
Guests from each nation under heaven are seen, 
Turkey's sultana beside fair England's queen. 
From east, from west, from south, and north they come, 
From warmer climates, from a colder home — 
Till (as I to a fair lady said) " Madam, 
The only absent pair are Eve and Adam." 
If each to talk his proper tongue were able. 
Confusion here would far exceed old Babel. 

Here are the " Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled," 
Dressed up in tartan black, blue and red ; 
Some of them are " Vich Alpines, warriors true," 
And one perhaps is even " Roderick Dhu ;" 



25 

Yet fear not ladies, for in peace they come, 

Your smiles, the only spoils they will bear home. 

Great they may be in sham militia war, 

But will not do the deed of Lochinvar ; 

Or, were they standing on old Scotland's heather, 

They'd wrap, I think, their plaids more close together; 

Or, shivering beneath some highland storm, 

Wonder how Donald kept his bare limbs warm. 

In dreamy idleness, unused to work, 

And loosely clad, here stands the " turbanM Turk," 

Wishing these fair ones slaves, that he might buy 

The beauty which on all sides meets his eye ; 

But yet despair not Turk, if you have gold : 

Not among the Turks alone are women sold. 

Parties are here the markets for the dears. 

And careful mothers act as auctioneers. 

Yet take a warning — buy but one — no more, 

Although Mahomet vt^ill allow you four. 

For you cannot with sack or bowstring scare 'em. 

And four would play the mischief in your harem. 

Close by the Turk — not now a thing for fear — 
See Richard of the lion heart appear. 
He fights not now 'gainst Turks with sword and lance, 
But only runs against them in the dance ; 
And by his graceful air and flattering arts, 
Robs ladies, and not lions, of their hearts. 

Another, still another English king 
More than the minstrel can have time to sing- — 



26 

Portly and brave Harry the Eighth is seen ; 
Can he not somewhere find fair Anne Boleyn ? 
" In peace there's nothing so becomes a man" 
He says, " as to be general, if you can." 

Anneke Jans! since thou art here, declare, 
Is, or is not, old Trinity thine heir ? 
Settle the question with a little pains, 
And quiet all these lawyers cogging brains. 

Is it a vision flashing past my eyes. 
Fresh as a rosebud amid summer skies ? 
Do fairy belles, with tinkling music sweet, 
Attend the movements of those tiny feet ? 
Were such the forms near Ganges' hallowed shore, 
His waters would be never worshipped more ; 
And Hindoos, turning from their gods of stone, 
Would kneel to beauty such as thine alone. 

In sable garb, a crescent on thy brow, 
Adorned with stars, fair Night, next cam'st thou ; 
Were every night lovely as thou art here, 
We'd wish it might be night the livelong year. 

Fawn of the forest ! say, how didst thou dare 
To enter here with cold indifferent stare ? 
Cam'st thou from thy loved and distant wild 
To show to Fashion's children. Nature's child? 
Or didst thou wish to shame each king and queen 
With thy untutored majesty of mien ? 
Back to thy woods, lest thou may'st learn to prize 
Our heartless life, our hollow gaieties ; 



27 

Preserve thy soul from Fashion's bondage free, 
And scornful still smile at our vanity. 

Hark to the minuet ! Upon the floor 
See Monsieur M. and Madame Pompadour. 
Slowly they move along the courtly dance, 
"With all the grace of their own native France ; 
And ne'er could France, if challenged to compare, 
Show a more polished, gay, and graceful pair. 
Ye peasant girls, dressed up in costly gear ; 
Ye shepherdesses, little used to shear ; 
Ye bandits, who would fear to kill a fly ; 
Ye quakers, whom we cannot well call dry ; 
Ye pirates, who can draw a brief or plea 
Better than ye could board a ship at sea ; 
Ye Jilles du regement, with canteens handy. 

Filled up (so says) with best of brandy; 

Ye artists, eager to immortalize 

The forms and faces flitting past your eyes ; 

Ye Polish maidens, all unused to fear. 

When tales of Eussian insults meet your ear ; 

Ye Spanish ladies, with your long black hair; 

And ye Rebeccas dark, Rowenas fair. 

And you, great master of the rapid bow, 

Too merry for the love-sick Romeo ; 

Thou Capuchin, with cross and string of beads, 

Questioning others of their evil deeds, 

Ne'er thinking of thine own— like most divines; 

Ye Byrons, skilled in writing ledger lines ; 



28 

Ye princesses^ adorned with brilliant stars ; 
Ye maids cf Athens ; and ye jolly tars, 
Who in your ship, or any other place, 
Can splice no rope so well as the main-hrace ; 
Thou veteran husband of "oZd Molly Stark,''* 
With regimentals saved in Noah's ark ; 
Ye tawney Indians, looking through your specs ; 
Ye lovely Swiss girls, with your snow-white necks; 
Ye fair,, half-hidden under misty veils ; 
Thou old Soga-dus with thy long coat tails ; 
Ye quakeresses, with your thee and thou-ing ; 
Ye dapper French lords^ with your courtly bowing ; 
Ye old Dutch ladies ; ye Italian dames ; 
And all who have, or have not borrowed names ; 
Zuleikas ; captains ; Maltese boatmen ; all, 
Ye great and little, and ye short and tall ; 
Both ye who in these lines have mentioned been, 
And whom the minstrel has by chance not seen, 
A happy night to all — may you to-moiTOW say 
You ne*er have been so merry and so gay ; 
And when this night is o'er, be it the theme 
Of many a talk and many a bright day-dream. 
For surely in the memory of all 
Naught has been known like to this fancy ball. 
Then join me in deep bumpers to this toast, 
^^Long live the royal pair, our hostess and our host.''' 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 







^fi,: -r^'Ti. 



